Almost a thousand participants who have received life-saving transplant operations are coming to Newport for the Westfield Health British Transplant Games 2019. They will compete in 23 different sports across the city.
While most of the events are restricted to Britain’s transplant community – including live donors and donor families – the general public are invited to show their support for organ donation by signing up to The Donor Run.
The race will take place on Saturday 27 July and runners can opt for a 3km or 5km race. It will start and finish at The Riverfront in Newport – Newport’s theatre and arts destination. The route will take runners along the west bank of the River Usk.
This year’s Donor Run is supported by a number of Welsh NHS health organisations, who are keen to promote the need for people with transplants to lead active and healthy lifestyles, as well as the Newport Now BID.
Paul Harden, Chair of Transplant Sport, is urging as many people as possible to take part:
“The Westfield Health British Transplant Games is an event like no other. It is an incredible experience to see transplant recipients, live donors and donor families all come together to celebrate the benefits of organ donation.
“The Donor Run is a real centrepiece of the Games to which everyone is invited. It is an opportunity for everybody to be a part of what is the most inspiring event that has ever come to Newport. It is also a great way for people to show their support for organ donation.”
The aim of the Games is to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Ann Lloyd, Chair of the Games Local Organising Committee and also Chair of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – hopes that the Newport event will be a conversation starter:
“Wales was the first to introduce a soft opt-out system of the organ donor register but the decision to go ahead with organ donation is still made by families. We want the Games to raise awareness and prompt those very much-needed conversations.”
As of 31st December 2018, there were 232 patients in Wales waiting for a transplant. In the first three quarters of 2018/19, 19 patients died while on the active waiting list.
The event is supported by Westfield Health, Welsh Government, Newport City Council, Newport Live, the local health boards across Wales, NHS Blood and Transplant, Kidney Care UK, Anthony Nolan Register, Donor Family Network, Believe Organ Donor Support and Global Kidney Foundation. Further sponsors include Friars Walk, Icon Design, Rodney Parade, Celtic Manor and Newport NOW BID.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
The Donor Run will start at The Riverfront in Newport and it is £10 per person.
For more information or to sign up to the Donor Run, please visit: https://www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk/donor-run
Date: Saturday 27 July Venue: The Riverfront, Kingsway, Newport, NP20 1HG
Registration opens: 17:30 Race Starts: 18:30
For more information, please contact Jane Thomas on hello@janethomaspr.com
or 07967 351 827